Toy



Julyr 2, 1940.

TOY

Filed Oct. 7, 1939 S. NQVE 3 Sheets-Sheet l igl.

lnvenov. Sidney Nove Y A ys.

" July 2,1940.

S. NCVE TOY Filed Oct. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L0 CO lnvenToT.

Nove- S. NQVE TOY Filed OCC.. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 MEMS 5 m/noz Sidney NDV@ Patented July 2, 1949 l UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE Application October 7,

4 claims;

which the airplane is equipped with a propeller and a motor so that when the motor is operated the operation of the propeller will cause the airplane to move through the air in the circular path determined by the attachment of the airplane to the arm. r r r Another object of the invention is to provide novel meansfor swinging the arm about a hori- Zontal axis so as to place the airplane at a higher or a lower elevation.`

A further .object of `the invention is to `provide means carried by the arm for varying its position about its horizontal axis, thereby varying the elevation of the airplane from the ground.

A still further object of the invention `is to provide a `novel device of this character With remote control for the airplane motor and for the means for` swinging the arm into different positions about its horizontal axis, so that the person playing with the toy can control the operation and r location of the airplane at a pointvremote from the toy. Other objects of the invention are to provide various improvements in toys of this character as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth. l

In the drawings: l Fig. l is a view of a toy embodying my invention; l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View .of a portion of o thelswinging arm carrying the means for 'swinging it about its horizontal axis; l

Fig. 3 is a section fonthe line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4`4, Fig. 2; l Fig. 5 is a section through the upper end of the 45 mast on theline 5--5, Fig. 2;

` Fig. Gris a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 'l is a wiring diagram. Referring rst to Fig. 1 of the drawings, l indicates a post or mast rising from a suitable base 2 which maybe placed yon the floor or on altable or any other support 3. This post or mast l` may be of any desired height. l

Mounted on the mast llat its upper end is a supporting arm4 to the endlof which is attached a tot7 airplane 5. The arm `4 fis mounted on `the the airplane is a self-propelled one, that is, one in 1939, serial No. 298,378

mast l so that it can turn about the mast as an axis, and so that itcan also swing `about a horizontal axis, thereby placing the airplane 5 at a higher or a lower elevation. The airplane 5v may be attached to the end ofthe arm 4 in any suit- 5 able way, and I have herein illustrated a link connection 6 by which the airplane is suspended, said link connection permitting the airplane to maintain a horizontal position when the arm 4 is swung upwardly or downwardly into either of the 10 dotted line positions, Fig. 1.

The arm 4.is carried by a head number'l which is swiveled on the top `of the mast I as best seen in Fig. 5. This head member 1 is formed at its lower end with an axial recess 8 of a size to t 15T over the upper end`9 of the mast l, as shown in Fig. 5, so that said head rests on theupper end of the mast but is freely rotatable thereabout. The arm `4 is pivotaily mountedon the head 'l through the medium of a pivot pin ID which eX- 20 tends through the arm and the head, such pivotal connection permitting the arm to swing from its full line horizontal position, Fig. 1, into either ofv the dotted line positionsin said ligure.

The arm 4 is providedwithan extension Il on 25 which is mounted alcounterweight I 2 of a size to balance the weight `of the airplane. This counterweight l2 is adjustable longitudinally of `the arm so as to overbalanceor underbalance the airplane, thereby providing for swinging the arm 30 into either'of its dottedline positions, Fig. 1.

If the counterweight` I2 is moved outwardly toward the end of the extension Il, then it will overbalance the airplane, thereby carrying the arm 4 into the dotted line position indicated at a. 35 Ont-he other hand, if the counterweight `l2 is moved toward the mast, then it will underbalance the airplane with the resultthat the arm 4 will be swung into the dotted vline position b.

Means which will be presently described, are 40 provided for shifting the counterweight along the extension I I ofthe arm 4, into a `position to overbalance the airplane or into a position to underbalance said airplane, .or intoa position Where it correctly `balances the'airplane.

The airplane :5 isequipped with a propeller fl3 and an electric motor I4 .for operating `the propeller. When the motor` is in operation, `the propeller serves to movegthe airplane through the air, and since the airplane is :attached to the end 50 of the arm 4, such movement will `be in a circle. The air-plane is thus a self-propelled one which moves under its own power. 1

I have also provided lremote `control means for the motor I4 so that the `person lplaying with the 55 toy can control the operation of the motor at a point distant from the mast I. The airplane motor I4 is supplied with current from a suitable source of current supply I5 located remote from the toy, and the mo-torcircuit includes a contr-ol switch i6 by which said circuit can be closed or opened. Means are also provided for maintaining the circuit intact during the rotation of the arm 4 about the mast I. In the construction herein illustrated, one side of the motor circuit may be grounded on the arm I and mast 4 by `means of a circuit wire I1, and the ground side .of the circuit is completed by a wire I8 connectg ing the mast with the source of current supply.,

The other side of the motor circuit includes I5. a wire i9 leading to a brush 20 which is carried by but is insulated from the head 1, said brush having contact with a ring 2| that is fast on the mast I but is insulated therefrom by suitableinsulation 22. This ring 2I has a wire 23 connected thereto, which wire is located inside the mast I and extends through the base and to the source of current supply I5, as indicated in Fig. 1. The motor control switch I6 is shown as` being in the wire connection 23.

The brush 2l] is shown as mounted on a plate 58 of insulating material which is secured to the head 1 by means of a screw 59. 'Ihe lower end of the plate 58 is connected by a screw 6I to a collar 'which is freely rotatable about the mast. The plate 58 and the brush 20 are, therefore, rotated aboutthe mast as theV head 1 and arm 4 rotate. rWhen the switch I6 is closed, the motor I4 will be operated and the action of the propeller will move the airplane forwardly, said plane travelling in a circular or orbital path due to the fact that it is attached to the end of the arm 4. The

brush 20 and ring 2l ensure that the motorcircuit will be maintained closed when the switch I8- is closed, notwithstanding the rotative movement of the arm 4 about the mast.

I have referred above to the fact that the weight of the plane is counterbal'anced by a counterweight I2 which is carried by the extension II of the arm 4, and also to the fact that means are provid-ed for shifting the position of the counterweight longitudinally of the arm 4, therebyl to overbalance or underbalance the airplane ywith the result that the arm 4 will swing into either the dotted line position a. or the dotted line position b during its rotative movement. The extension II of the arm 4 is in the form of two side rails 24, 25, which are connected at their outer end by a crossrail 26. The side rail 25 .extends to the head 1 and is mounted on the pivot pin I0. f

The counterweight I2 is situated between said side rails and is supported on a screw-threaded rod 21 which extendsv from the outer crossrail 26 to an intermediate crossrail 28. The counterweight I2 is provided with an upstanding projection 29 lthrough which the screw-threaded shaft 21 extends and with which it has screw-threaded engagement. y

Means' are provided for rotating thescrewthreaded rod 21 in one direction or the other, such rotative movement serving to shift the position of the counterweight longitudinally of the rod. If it be assumed that when the counterweight is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said counterweight will just counterbalance the weight of the airplane, then the arm 4 will stand in the horizontal position shown in full lines, Fig. 1. If*A the screw-threaded` shaft 21 is turned in a direction to shift the counterweight outwardly,

''to the shaft 21.

vried by a motor frame 34 which is situated bethen said counterweight will overbalance the airplane, thus causing the arm 4 to assume the dotted line position a, Fig. 1, but if the screwthreaded shaft 21 is turned to shift the counterweight toward the left, Fig. 2, or toward themast, then the counterweight will unbalance the airplane and the arm will assume the dotted line position b, Fig. 1.

I have provided herein counterweight-shifting means which is carried bythe extension II of the arm 4 but is controllable from a remote control device situated at a distance from the toy.

One form of counterweight-shifting means may be that of a reversible motor 38 which is geared This motor 30 is shown as cartween'the Vside rails 24, 25, and which is secured thereto by means of screws 3I. The motor shaft 30a has a pinion 32 thereon (see Fig. 3) which meshes with and drives a gear 33 fast on the `'screw-threaded shaft 21 in either direction.

The motor includes the usual eld coils 35, commutator 36 and brushes 31.

'Ihe complete motor circuit includes a circuit for the field coils and a circuit including the brushes 31. The field coil circuit includes a wire connection 38 which is grounded on the mast I or arm 4 and is, therefore, connected to the source of electrical supply I5 through the wire connection I8. The field coil circuit also includes a wire connection 39 leading from the eld coils toa brush 48 mounted on the plate 58, said brush 48 engaging a ring 4I carried by the insulating sleeve 22. This ring 4I is connected by a wire connection 42 to the terminal 43 of a reversing switch 44, and said switch is connected to the source ofA electrical supply I5 by a wire connection 46 which is shown as having a switch 41 therein.

The circuit for the commutator and brushes comprises the wire connection 48 leading from one commutator brush 31 to a brush 49 mounted on the plate 58 'of insulating material, said brush engaging a ring 50 carried by the insulating sleeve 22. This ring has a wire connection 54 which extends down throughl themast I and is connected to the terminal 56 of the reversing switch 44.

-The other commutator brush 31 is connected by a wire connection 5I to a brush 52 mountedl on the plate 58, said brush 52 engaging a ring 53 carried by the insulating sleeve 22, and said sleeve is connected by a wire 55 that extends down through theV mast I and leads to the terminal 51 of the reversing switch. The wire connection 46 leads to the terminal 45 of the reversing switch.

If it be assumed that the set so that the terminal 43 is connected to the terminal 51 and terminal 56 is connected to the terminal 45, then when the switch 41 is closed, the motor circuit will include the wire 46, the connection between the terminals 45, k56, the wire 54, ring 50, brush 49, wire 48, the brushes 31 with the armature winding of the motor, the wire 5I, brush 52, ring 53, wire 55, the connection between the terminals 51 and 43, wire 42, ring 4I', brush 40, wire 39, field winding 35 and wire lconnection 38 to the arm and mast, and thence by wire I8 to the source of current supply I5. With this circuit closed, the motor will rotate in one direction. Y

reversing switch is 40 as the counterweight approaches the left-hand ascenso` If the reversing switch Mis turned to establish a connection between the terminals 45and. 51,

and between the terminals 43 and 56, then the l direction of current through the brushes 3l` and e armature windingswill be reversed, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the motor. l Hence by closing the switch 41` and by manipulating the reversing switch 44, the counterweight VIZ can be shifted in one direction orthe other,

thereby to overbalance or underbalance the airplane. When the counterweighthas been brought e into any desired position, the switch 4l may be opened which will render the motor 3U inoper-` versedl at which time the `motor again becomes operative to shift the counterweight in the opposite direction. y

The driving connection between the motor and the counterweight l2 is such that the counterweight will have a relatively slow motor-driven movement so that when the motor 30 is operating, a considerable time will be required to shift the weight from one to the other extreme position. The circuit wire 48 of one of the brushes 3l of the motor is connected by a Wire connection t2 to a spring contact 63 which is carried by but insulated from the plate 64 that is secured to the side rails 25. The plate 64 also carries a xed contact 51 which is insulated therefrom byinsulation E6, said contacts 63` and @lli normally being separated. The upstanding portion 29 of the counterweight I2 has a lateral cam extension 68 which engages the contact 63 end of its stroke in Figs. 1 and 2. 'Ihe closing of the contacts 6l and 63 by the cam projection `$3 will short circuit the armature winding, thereby cutting this circuit out and rendering the motor inoperative.

Another spring contact 69 similar to the contact 55 is carried by but insulated from the plate This contact 69 is connected by a wire connection it to the wire connection 5I leading toe operative.

When the motor `has been thus rendered in- `operativelby the movement of the counterweight as it approaches either end of its stroke, said motor can be again rendered operative byrevel-sing the switch 44. This is illustrated in the wiring diagram in Fig, '7. i e

Ii' it be assumed that the reversing switch 44 isset so as to connect the contact 5l with the contact 43, and the contact 45 with the contact 5S, and that both contacts 63 and 69 are separated from their corresponding stationary contacts t? and ll, as shown in Fig. 2, then upon closing the switch 47, the motor 30 will operate to shift the counterweight l2 in one direction or theother. If it be assumed that the movement of the counterweightis toward the left in Fig. 2, then when the cam projection 68 engages the spring contact .63 and closesit onto the stationary contact 61, the armature circuit will be shortcircuited, the current passing through the eld coil 35 only of the` motor. stopping the motor, as will be obvious.

.'If, now, the reversing switch 44 is reversed so as to connect the contact 45 with the contact `5'! and the contact` 56 with the contact43, then an operative circuit will be established through both thel armature windings and the eld windings of the motor Sil, but in a direction to cause a reversal of the motor, thereby producing a movement of the counterweight I2 toward the right,

e in Fig. 1. As soon as the cam 68 has been carried off from the spring Contact 53,the circuit connection d2 will be opened, but the circuit connection through the armature will still be closed through the reversing switch so that Athe motor will continue to,` operate until the switch 41 is opened or until the counterweight reaches` the right-hand end of its travel in Figs. 1 and 2. As the counterweight does thus reach the righthand e-nd of its travel, the'cam 68 will close the contact E39 ontothe contact 1l, thereby shortcircuiting the armature winding and bring the motor to rest.

Another reversal of the reversing switch to bring it into itsinitial position will again establish a circuit through an armature winding and thusset the motor in operation.

The reversing switch 44 and the switches-Hi and 4l may be placed at any point remote from the toy and, therefore, the person who is playing with the toy can control the movement of the airplane as to its travel in its orbital path and as to its elevation, by simply manipulating the switches i6, 41and 44 from a distant point.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a mast, an arm mounted This will resultiny ioV thereon to rotate about a vertical axis and also to turn about a horizontal aXis, an airplane suspended from the end'of the arm, means controllable from a point remote from the mast to rotate the arm about its vertical axis, a counterweight carried by the arm for balancing the.` Weight of the airplane, a reversible electric motor mounted cnthe arm and having a field circuit and an armature circuit, means actuated by said motor for shifting the counterweight on the arm in one direction or the other to cause it to overbalance or underbalance the airplane, a reversing switch remote from the mast for controlling the reversible motor, and means actuated by the movement of the counterweight as it reaches the end of its travel in either direction toshortcircuit the armature circuit and thus render said reversible motor inoperative.

2. A toy comprising a mast, an arm mounted thereon to rotate about a` vertical axisand also to turn about a horizontal axis, an airplane suspended from the end ofthe arm, means controlvlable from a point remote fromthe mast to roe tate the arm about its vertical axis, a screw eX- tending longitudinally oi the arm, a counterweight havingscrew-threaded engagement with said screw, a reversible motor connected to the screw to rotate the same,'said. motor having a field circuit and an armature circuit, a reversing switch remote from the mast for controlling the reversible motor vand means to short circuit the armature circuit by the movement of the counterweight as it reaches the end of its travel in either direction, thereby to'render thevreversible motor inoperative.

3. A toy comprising a mast, an arm mounted thereon to rotate about a vertical axis and also toturn about a horizontal axis, an airplane suspended from one end of said arm, said arm having a pair of parallel guide rails, a. screw extending longitudinally of said arm and parallel to the guide rails, a counterweight operating between said guide rails and having screwthreaded engagement with said screws, a reversible motor carried by said arm for rotating the screw, and thereby moving the counterweight longitudinally of the arm, said counterweight being guided in its movement by said guide rails, means remote from the mast for controlling the operation of the' reversible motor, and means actuated by the movement of the counterweight as it reachesthe'end of its travel in either direction to render the reversiblev motor inoperative. l.

4. A toy comprising a hollow mast, a head mounted on said mast for turning movement tnereabout, said head having inns underside an axial bore in which the upper` end of the mast is received, an arm pivoted to said head to turn about av horizontal axis, an airplane suspended from one end of said arm and 'having amotor and a propeller actuated thereby, a sleeve of insulating material carried by said mast immediately below the head, contact rings mounted on the sleeve, a plate of insulating material se-` cured to said head and depending therefrom, a

plurality of brushes carried by Said plate and` engaging said contact rings, a counterweight on the arm for counterbalancing the weight of the airplane, a reversible motor also carried by said arm for shifting the counterweight, a control switch remote fromthe mast, circuit Yconnections between said motors and said brushes, and other circuit connections between said contact rings andthe control switch, said latter circuit connections having portions located within the mast.

` SIDNEY NOVE. 

